Ukraine ticker: Mützenich – Germany not a good mediator
7:35 a.m .: The Ukrainian government expects the war to end within six months
The Ukrainian government expects that the Russian war of aggression will end within six months. “It can take another two to six months,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak told the opposition Russian online portal Medusa about the possible duration of the war. Territorial concessions to Russia could not end the war, Podoljak said: “Because it is also for the Russian Federation – and that’s what Mr. (Vladimir) Putin said – that the mere existence of Ukrainian statehood is harmful.”
7:20 a.m.: Italian peace plan for Ukraine
According to a CNN report, the USA, Great Britain and the European Union have been discussing how the war could be ended through a negotiated solution in the past few weeks. It preceded the report, which also dealt with a proposal that Italy had submitted in May. This stipulates that Ukraine will remain militarily neutral and not seek to join NATO. In return, Ukraine is to receive security guarantees. The Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia and the separatist areas in the Donbass are to be dealt with in separate talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
06.30: Heavy fighting around Sievjerodonetsk in Luhansk
According to their own statements, Ukrainian troops have pushed back Russian troops in the city of Sievjerodonetsk with a population of 100,000 in the west of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. If the Russian soldiers had previously controlled “about 70 percent” of the city, “they have now been pushed back by 20 percent,” said the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Gajdaj, on Friday evening. He spoke of hour-long bombardments. The government of Ukraine accuses Moscow of making a “second Mariupol” with the siege of the important city. According to the mayor, Mariupol was “almost reduced to rubble” by Russian troops.
6:10 a.m.: Negotiations dependent on arms deliveries
The chief negotiator for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Arakhamiya, made it clear on Ukrainian television: “The negotiations should normally take place when our negotiating position is required.” This strengthening of the Ukrainian position makes Arakhamiya dependent on international arms supplies. Above all, his country would be strong, while “the weapons that we are constantly being promised by international partners are finally arriving in sufficient quantities,” said the parliamentary group leader of the presidential party, Servants of the People. In previous talks with Russia, he was spokesman for the Czech side. After the atrocities in the Kiev suburb of Bucha became known after the Russian army withdrew, there were probably no further talks. Selenskyj does not want to negotiate again until Russian troops withdraw to their pre-war positions. So far, Russia has refused direct talks between the Ukrainian president and Vladimir Putin.
4:04 a.m.: $800 million loan to Central America for fuel price hikes
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) says it will approve a loan of $800 million. This is intended to cushion the consequences of the global increase in fuel prices for Central American countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala. “This measure will have a direct economic impact for millions of consumers,” BCIE President Dante Mossi said in a statement. Each Central American member country of the BCIE can therefore hope for funding of up to 200 million dollars. In Central America, for example, the cost of fertilizers and staple foods has risen sharply as a result of the increase in fuel prices.
2:27 a.m .: Mützenich – Germany not a good mediator
SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich rules out a mediating role for Germany between the warring parties Russia and Ukraine. He proposes instead of states like China for mediation between the countries. “Germany will hardly be able to mediate in this conflict,” said Mützenich, according to a preliminary report to the news portal “t-online”. “Because from Russia’s point of view, we took a too clear stance from the start.” Instead, those states that have abstained from condemning Russia in the United Nations General Assembly would be eligible for the role of mediator.